Creative Idea for Saving on Non-Refundable Airline Tickets—Thoughts?

cheapflightx

Hi MSE members,

I recently came across an idea that I found really interesting, and I was curious what others think about it. The basic concept is this: when airlines allow free name changes for up to three letters, people with similar names could technically "swap" non-refundable tickets they no longer need.

For instance, if someone with the surname "Smith" can't use their ticket, they could pass it to someone with the surname "White," because the three-letter difference falls within the free change rule. I think this could be a game-changer for saving money and reducing waste, but I’m curious—does this sound like something you'd try?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Does it sound practical, or are there any challenges I might not be thinking of? Would you trust a platform that facilitates something like this?

Looking forward to hearing your views!

Grumpy_chap

cheapflightx said:

Hi MSE members,

I recently came across an idea that I found really interesting, and I was curious what others think about it. The basic concept is this: when airlines allow free name changes for up to three letters, people with similar names could technically "swap" non-refundable tickets they no longer need.

For instance, if someone with the surname "Smith" can't use their ticket, they could pass it to someone with the surname "White," because the three-letter difference falls within the free change rule. I think this could be a game-changer for saving money and reducing waste, but I’m curious—does this sound like something you'd try?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Does it sound practical, or are there any challenges I might not be thinking of? Would you trust a platform that facilitates something like this?

Looking forward to hearing your views!

I have never heard of the "three letter rule" to which you refer.

Assuming you are correct and the rule is in place, one would assume this is to allow for genuine corrections of mistakes and not entire changes of person.  For example, to correct "Smmitth" to "Smith".

Does the "three letter rule" include letters in the forenames?
So, using your example, John Paul Smith could change to John Paul White but John Paul Smith could not change to Josephine Patricia Smith or Josephine Patricia White.

I suspect it is not that common that you'd book a flight and then be able to find someone with no more than three letters different in their name who wishes to fly the route you initially booked at the time and date you initially booked...

Caz3121

The airlines often refer to name corrections vs name changes. Corrections are usually to correct typos or fix abbreviated names.  Some are limited to three characters others are not.
i would expect finding someone with a similar name and an airline that will do this free change that wants to travel from the same departure point to the same destination on the same dates may pretty slim. 

eskbanker

I have seen reference to the free change of a few letters, e.g. Ryanair: "Up to three characters per name can be changed free of charge once, up to 48 hours before scheduled departure", although they specifically clarify that actually changing the passenger incurs a three-figure fee, which would probably become an issue for anyone visibly trying to buck the system.

However, I agree that it's vanishingly unlikely to be exploitable, in terms of the minuscule number of occasions when there'll be two people with similar enough names, one of whom has a ticket that they no longer need and the other who needs one for the same flight!

Pitch it to the Dragons and enjoy the reaction....

TELLIT01

As flight tickets typically require the full name of the traveller, the likelihood of finding somebody with a name so similar to the original name on the ticket is minute.

DullGreyGuy

TELLIT01 said:

As flight tickets typically require the full name of the traveller, the likelihood of finding somebody with a name so similar to the original name on the ticket is minute.

RyanAir, where the 3 letter change for free originates from, actually say they only need first name and first surname, they say they dont need either middle names or the second surname for those with double barrelled or two surnames (like most in LatAm have)

Clearly the 3 letter change is intended to deal with typos. It's not clear from the RyanAir site if you;d be able to change other API that may have already been given. 


RyanAir also state you can reverse names for free, we do have a Jack Ryan and a Ryan Jack working us, surprised the OP didnt spot the opportunity for them to switch tickets too (subject to API details too)

TELLIT01

@DullGreyGuy even if it is only first and last name required, the likelihood of finding somebody with a name match close enough for that to work, and wanting to travel from the specific airport on the required date, are still vanishingly small.

silvercar

I guess it could potentially work with family members. Give your children three letter first names and your sorted!

kinger101

I think you just need to tweak the model. Everyone just needs to change their name to Bobby Smith by deed poll.
.

Grumpy_chap

DullGreyGuy said:

we do have a Jack Ryan and a Ryan Jack 

Does Ryan Jack want to fly away to the same place that Jack Ryan no longer wants to fly, departing and returning on the same dates that Jack Ryan was going to fly but is not now going to fly?
It becomes quite a tongue-twister to even ask the question!

eskbanker

Grumpy_chap said:

DullGreyGuy said:

we do have a Jack Ryan and a Ryan Jack 

Does Ryan Jack want to fly away to the same place that Jack Ryan no longer wants to fly, departing and returning on the same dates that Jack Ryan was going to fly but is not now going to fly?
It becomes quite a tongue-twister to even ask the question!

....and does he want to fly with Ryanair or just jack it all in?